Do city landmarks have value?
Exactly 50 years ago, Orlando’s Historic Preservation Board was created at the will of the people to protect our heritage of buildings 50 years old or older. These buildings are all individual threads in Orlando’s living fabric, all now 100 years or older, with good standing as Orlando citizens. They are Orlando’s very footprints and fingerprints — whether standing proud in the future individually or integrated into vibrant, imaginative, contemporary adaptive-reuse or mixed-use venues as our best architects are capable of designing when given the challenge and opportunity.
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As Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and the City Council cast their votes Monday on an ordinance to limit the control of the board, they should vote based on the people’s will, listening to no one else, neither Staff, nor City Council colleagues, nor developers, and realize the potential for tragedy. Although the developers haven’t revealed which buildings are targeted for destruction, the proposed ordinance will enable clear-cut demolition of Orlando’s entire constructed heritage. City commissioners should ask themselves whether any of these landmarks have value to them.
If this ordinance passes, I will certainly live the rest of my life in sorrow, whereas the city commissioners may live their lives in deep regret.
— Tom Price, Orlando
Tom Price served a founding member of the Historic Preservation Board from 1976 to 1992, during which the Downtown, Lake Cherokee and Lake Copeland Historic Districts were ordinanced.
Voters need straight facts on taxes
Many voters may be inclined to support the proposal meant to cut property taxes based on a compelling title or brief description (its title is “Save Our Homes from Excessive Property Taxes”).
That’s why local governments have a responsibility to clearly explain in plain language what funding amounts could be affected if this measure passes.
The potential consequences of a “Yes” vote should be presented in a way that’s easy for everyone to understand. Residents deserve straightforward explanations of the immediate and long-term impacts so they can make informed decisions. I have already made such a request to my city.
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The effects of today’s choices will be felt for years to come, particularly by future generations who will live with the results long after the election.
— Brian Javeline, Coral Springs
Don’t short NPA voters
The editorial titled “Don’t sleep on primary races” (June 16) urges Floridians to be sure to vote in the primaries, but conveniently left out an important detail for 3,317,596 No Party Affiliated voters in this state (as of May 31)… you’re not invited.
Florida’s closed primary system locks 25% of all registered voters from participating in primary elections even though our tax dollars fund them. Telling NPA readers “Primaries matter. Be sure to vote” in a primary we’re barred from entering isn’t civic encouragement. It’s a gut punch. A truly informed editorial on primary participation would also call for opening Florida primaries to independent voters who fund them.
— Deborah Smith, Orlando
Reflecting-pool irony
America, aren’t you proud of our refurbished reflecting pool in Washington, D.C.? Our illustrious president managed to create what I see as one of the truly great ironies of our 250 years: instead of creating a pool to match the blue of our Stars and Stripes, he managed to turn the pool Iranian-flag green. Happy birthday, Mr. President!
— Michael Dalton, Orlando
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